I've been blogging links and so on but I think it's time to post some examples of Tsotsitaal lexicon. Here's a word list I've been developing featuring 46 tsotsitaal words & their meaning. Most of them also give a likely source.
| amajita | guys | Eng. magic gardens |
| authi | lad/young man | |
| grand | fine/alright | Eng |
| bra | friend/brother | |
| cherry | sweetheart/girl | French Cherie |
| gidla | sleep | |
| medi | girlfriend/female | Eng Maid |
| moja | good/alright | |
| nyuku | money | Zulu |
| tiger | ten rands | Eng |
| vaya | go/ go away | Port vay |
| dladla | home | from archaic Zulu |
| heita | hello | |
| ma-gents | gentlemen | Eng |
| ringa | talk/chat | Eng ring |
| sharp | fine/alright/goodbye | Eng |
| thayima | father | Eng Old Timer |
| bhari | stupid | |
| chomi | friend | Eng Chum |
| clever | streetwise male | Eng |
| hola | hello | Spanish |
| kasi | township | Afr. Lokasie |
| mfethu | brother | Zulu? |
| mpintshi | friend | |
| ntwana | girlfriend | |
| smoko | trouble | |
| spana | work | Afr. |
| bloma | stay | Afr. bloom |
| camtha | talk/lingo | |
| check | look | Eng |
| cisha | to kill | Zulu to extinguish |
| daa | there | Afr. |
| diski | soccer | Eng 'disc' |
| four five | penis | |
| gata | policeman | |
| gaz'lam | friend | Zulu lit 'my blood' |
| gcwala | like/love | |
| lova/guluva | loafer/thug | Eng. |
| madala | old man/grandfather | |
| ou-lady | mother | Eng. |
| six-nine | urinate/toilet | |
| splasha | wash | Eng. |
| tekeni | girlfriend | from archaic Zulu |
| transi | car | Eng. Transport |
| vati | water | Afr. water |
| zol/zolo | marijuana/a joint |
Tah! thats great send me more
ReplyDeletei need more words
ReplyDeletehizo hizo
ReplyDeleteAwe
DeleteYa sho fede bafethu?
ReplyDeleteFede bafethu=greeting guys
DeleteDaydeng...that thing
ReplyDeleteNice. u are on it
ReplyDeleteyizo yizo skrofe
ReplyDeleteEs vetag
ReplyDeleteIt's real,it's correct,it's right
DeleteSchool is?
ReplyDeleteSgela
DeleteSgela
Deleteisgele
ReplyDeleteuncle is?
ReplyDeleteAnkeli
DeleteKid is
ReplyDeletencosii
DeletePerson born from venda n Tsonga parents is called ?
ReplyDeletecool or smart looking is?
ReplyDeleteNtswembu. This word can also be used to say there is trouble. As in "Ku ntswembu"
DeleteWhat does ukutesha nokujinda mean
ReplyDeleteUkuthesha means to work
ReplyDeleteUkujinda means to leave something
How do you say ," I love you"
ReplyDeleteNgi ya Ku vrostana
ReplyDeleteDear god you can see I'm trying but not is going as good as i want it to be .you know I really want to wipe my mom's tears .you know I want to also look like other kids and afford life but nothing is going well on my side .why do you create us and let us suffer this much .am i here to clap hands for your favourites .why don't we have beautiful homes and be taken to school by cars so that we can be also be recognised .dear god bless me.and keep my mom for me so that one day she will testify my success all i want is happiness but without money and a hungry family that is impossible .i put all in you amen
ReplyDeletePlease translate it for me